What information will I be asked for?

A description, including identifiable features and what they were wearing when you last saw them.

The date and time they were last seen.

Information about their habits, including places they enjoy going to and people they may be with.

A recent photograph of the person.

What type of mobile phone the missing person has, as well as their mobile phone number, email addresses and information about their use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Whether there’s a possibility that the missing person may be a victim of crime.

The Herbert Protocol: A system to help in the search for people living with Dementia-related illnesses

Families and carers are encouraged to download and complete the Herbert Protocol form as thoroughly as possible, including vital details such as places of interest or significance, daily routines, medications required and a recent photograph.

Once filled in, print-off the form and keep it somewhere easily accessible, safe and memorable and share copies with family, friends and trusted neighbours. In the event that someone goes missing, the form can then easily be handed to our officers to help in the search for a missing person.

What will Nottinghamshire Police do to trace a missing person?

In the first instance, we will ask for as much information as possible to determine whether an immediate police response is required. If this is not the case, we will offer advice to help you trace the person before further police action is taken.

Once we launch a missing person inquiry, we will provide ongoing support and guidance throughout what can be a difficult time for relatives and friends.

We'll search the missing person's home, check other places they visit (including their workplace, hospitals and homes of relatives and friends) and make further enquiries to attempt to trace the person.

Who else will be involved?

If the missing person is under 18 years of age or is considered to be vulnerable, information about the case will be shared with other agencies in-line with local information sharing agreements to safeguard the person.

When will Nottinghamshire Police publicise a person as missing?

A lot of thought must go into each decision when we appeal to the public to help find a missing person.

There are many considerations and reasons why we may be particularly concerned for an individual – even one missing for a relatively short period of time – based on their age, recent behaviour, medical history/conditions and other factors.

Your support of our missing person appeals on our website, social media and through the local media is invaluable and does regularly help us to reunite missing people with their loved ones.

What happens when the person is found?

If the missing person is spotted or found, please let us know immediately so our officers can bring their inquiry to a close.

In most cases, we'll need to see the person to confirm they are safe and well and to discuss what happened.

We will inform interested parties that the person has been found but we never disclose the whereabouts of that person without their consent, unless there are concerns about the person’s age or vulnerability.

An investigation may continue into any allegations of crime which may be linked to their absence.